The Tacoma Towing Bible

Well if you happen to find a solution let me know! I've heard everything from weight distribution hitches to airbags.

 

I'm considering

$105 Hellwig 550 Helper Spring Kit - 550

Hellwig 550 helpers.

 

Hello I've read this thread and was wondering if my 02 2.7 manual 4x4 Xtra cab taco could tow my Honda insight(2727 lbs) using a uhaul tow dolly(750 lbs). From NY to Miami I plan on purchasing a Curt class III hitch. Any advice much appreciated

 

Tekonsha P3 fits in the change holder of third gen. Still awaiting our trailer build date. Finishing up options this week

 

It's going to be a long white knuckle experience. It would not be wise to tow above 55mph as per most tow dolly's rating, you're near the max towing capacity of your truck at 3477#s.

 

I am trying to figure out if my current Tacoma will do the towing job. I am getting conflicting info from other sites, this page, and the manufacture info. Here's what I think I know. Also curious what your source is on the 5000lb towing capacity. I have an 03 V6 prerunner. According to Toyota there is a tow package but it appears to apply to the radiator fan. Orange colored shaft for the fan means no tow package, green means tow package. W/ package 6000lbs. W/o 3500 lbs. that's straight from toyotas online manual for the truck. I want to keep my truck but if 3500 lbs is all I have, it has to go. Help!

 

Which fan do you have?

 

All I know about the fan is it has the orange shaft. No owners manual with the truck.

I don't want to assume as there has been a ton of that in my research already so what do ya know about that sir? Thanks for your time.

 

Yeah that would be unwise of me to attempt that... Thanks for the info... Damn 4bangers can't tow a damn car...smh

 

Hey Guys,
I've been trying to search on here and google and cant find an answer.. Will the factory V6 receiver hitch (gen2) bolt onto an I4 (gen2)? I feel like this is well known and I just cant find the answer.

 

this is what my gen2 v6 factory hitch attachment points look like... it appears there's not only the rear frame rail but two brackets, one bolted below the frame rail, and another bolted to the bumper, that the hitch itself is bolted to. I dunno if these are on the 4 cyl or not...

 

the other tricky part will be the wiring for a brake controller, if you need that (typically, required for trailers much over 1000-1500 lbs). this involves a relay for the RV battery charging circuit, and heavy gauge wiring to the trailer brakes from the aftermarket trailer brake controller you install in the cab, as well as a trailer light controller (trailers combine turn and brake lights in a single filament, while the tacoma has seperate brake lights and turn signals). the light controller is the easier part, its the wiring for the RV house charging power and electric brakes thats a bit more involved.

 

Ok I have to ask. I have a 2000 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 5 speed manual. I just bought a 22 foot camper. I hade it dry weighed at 3500. I did add my 4 pin trailer plug and also a new tow hitch rated at 6000. I'm ordering a sway bar hitch and air bag system. Not many hills up here am I wasting my money? Will I be ok to tow. Truck is at 5100 it self. No money to buy new truck yet and this was my dad's truck before he passed. Now it's mine . Any suggestions?

 

well, right off, you NEED a 7-blade RV style connector, not a 4-pin, and you'll need a brake controller, as any trailer over 1500 lbs or so has to have trailer brakes. if that 22 foot camper is 3500 lbs dry, its probably dual axle ? I bet with some bedding, clothes, water in the tank, you'll be pushing 4500-5000 lbs. stay a gear under where you would be if you weren't towing, don't use 5th at all, even on dead level, and you'll probably be OK. It would probably ride better with an Andersen weight distributing hitch, but whatever.

 

Any thoughts on the orange fan shaft and my trucks towing capacity or did I hit another dead end? Mahalo!

 

Jim you MUST share how your trip went pulling the Lance 1985 with the Tacoma. I have the double cab 2014 tacoma 6cyl 4x4 with tow package that I pull with my current 20 ft toyhauler. I plan to sell/trade-in the toyhauler for the Lance 1985 and....travel on my dream road trip to Alaska. I have friends living in Anchorage suburb that I will visit, but plan to spend most time traveling. Any words of wisdom to share regarding pulling the 1985 with Tacoma?

 

Maybe the Gen 1 didn't have a towing package according to your specific definition, but it definitely did have a so-called "towing package" available. This is straight from my 2003 owner's manual:






And here's a pic of my fan with the green part -- and a pic of my hitch, which I'm assuming was from the factory.

 

Welp, just got my Tacoma back from the shop, with fresh shocks in all 4 (since I am not going to lift it, he talked me into Bilstein 4600, they are valved exactly the same as the 0-2" lift 5100 and are cheaper. the stock Toyota 'Bilsteins' are under dampened and not very responsive.

AND I got the Ride-Rite kit installed, putting the air valves just inside the tailgate, on the forward face of the metal box that the tail lights are in. good place for them, easy to access. test drove cross town and back with them at 40 PSI (harsh rear ride, truck was virtually empty), then rechecked the pressure, yup, still solid at 40 PSI. Let them down to 5 PSI, felt the truck drop an inch, ahhh, much better ride. almost no pogo on speed bumps, much better.

This should make our next Casita towing adventure a dream. I do believe I want to reset the tension on the WDH, too. Going to measure the bumper height of the empty truck, load it up, measure it again, then pump it up until its at the empty height after bouncing a couple times. THEN hitch the trailer, and adjust the WDH. I really want to put a high axle kit on the Casita, and go to 15" wheels, so I can raise the hitch ball an inch or two while keeping the rig level.

old picture...

 

Thanks for all the info on this. I added Tekonsha brake controller and Riderite airbags based on recomendations. Working very well. Now I just need to figure how to keep that tow ability with adding as 1.5" to 2" lift.